After a tough debut against Saudi Arabia, Argentina turned around and defeated Mexico and Poland to reach the round of 16 of the World Cup in Qatar. In the next stage, Albiceleste will face surprising Australia, who have left Tunisia and Denmark away, remaining only behind France in their group.

As in the round of 16, the ‘Socceroos’ entered this World Cup through the window after defeating Peru in the playoffs.

On that occasion Australia advanced to penalties, and thinking of a possible shootout, a somewhat particular name appears. This is Andrew Redmayne, substitute goalkeeper for the Australian team. Although today the goal of the team led by Graham Arnold is entrusted to Mathew Ryan, the DT knows he can find guarantees in the bank.

Against Peru, when things got complicated and the match went to penalties, Arnold asked Redmayne for answers, and the goalkeeper more than complied.

The coach put him up for the penalty shootout and Redmayne surprised with his particular style. In previewing each of the Peruvian pitches, the Australian got under his three sticks and performed a dance adorned with several jumps , which took him from side to side. the other, generating surprise in the performers. In the first two pitches the strategy didn’t pay off. But Luis Advíncula took charge of the third penalty, which he succumbed to Redmayne’s distractions and missed his maximum penalty.

The Australian shooters played their part and, with the exception of Martin Boyle, all converted penalties. In the end it was the turn of Alex Valera, sixth kicker from Peru, and Redmayne had the chance to shine. After performing the particular dance, which was now his trademark, the archer threw himself to his right and He contained Valera’s penalty, thus qualifying Australia for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Far from innovating in the midst of the World Cup playoffs, Redmayne came to this game a seasoned player on the subject. In 2019, after starring in the penalty shoot-out wearing the Sydney FC shirt, he said: “It’s a way for the rival not to know where I’m going to throw myself and I also want them to get nervous, for the goal is smaller than it actually is. It doesn’t always work for me, but this time it allowed me to save two shots.”

The truth is that Andrew Redmayne’s career hasn’t always been tied to Australian football. Though he now defends the colors of one of his country’s biggest clubs, the Gosford native knew he was one step away from playing for a European football giant.

In 2005, when he was just 16 and wearing a New South Wales Institute of Sport shirt, he was a star in a friendly against an Arsenal youth team, earning him a call-up from the London team.

The goalkeeper has been invited to participate in a series of training sessions in England. There he would show the best version of him and would even get the attention of manager Liam Brady, who would make several contacts to try to keep the pass from him.

Finally, and despite Redmayne’s great performances, Arsenal would decide for another goalkeeper who in the last few hours has also had a lot to do with the Argentine national team: the Polish Wojciech Szczesny.

After his frustrated spell in England, Redmayne would return to Australia where he would go on to play for the Australian Institute of Sport. Subsequently, the goalkeeper will join Central Coast, Brisbane Roar, Melbourne Heart, Melbourne City, Western Sydney and Sidney FC, all of his country. Meanwhile, he would represent Australia during his youth phase, establishing himself as a figurehead in the Under 20 and Under 23 categories of the ‘Socceroos’.

In 2019, already 29, he would finally have the chance to make his debut for the Australian national team, playing in a friendly against South Korea. Since then, Redmayne has been present in each of the squads for his country, although he would have to wait a little before reviewing the minutes. In mid-2021 he will play an official match against Nepal, in which he will not receive a goal.

The rest is known history. The goalkeeper was a figure against Peru and qualified Australia for a new World Cup, which would also be Redmayne’s first. Then, he would save against New Zealand in a friendly before the big event. The truth is that since his arrival in Qatar landed just a few weeks ago, the goalkeeper is more than active on social media, where he reveals the details of the day-to-day concentration, and is also encouraged to throw some attacks on Peru.

Now he will play against Argentina in the round of 16 of the World Cup, something unthinkable for the goalkeeper just a couple of years ago. Because of his outstanding work on penalties, Graham Arnold should give Redmayne a chance in a hypothetical shootout. The truth is that in principle the person in charge of defending the Australian goal would be Ryan, who had a lot of fun in the group stage.

Note that the Argentina national team will face Australia next Saturday, December 3, starting at 16:00. The match between Argentina and Australia will be broadcast live on Public Television, TyC Sports and DSports. The match will be played at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, a stadium which so far has not yet received Argentina at the World Cup. Australia will also make their debut at this stadium next Saturday.

GL